San Antonio valedictorian credits her mom’s hard work

Vincent T. Davis, San Antonio Express-News

Published
1:30 am CDT, Tuesday, June 7, 2016

South San Antonio High School senior, AraceliGarcia attends shortened classes on her last day at the school, on Friday, June 2, 2016. As the school's valedictorian, she will address her classmates during graduation services next week. less

South San Antonio High School senior, AraceliGarcia attends shortened classes on her last day at the school, on Friday, June 2, 2016. As the school's valedictorian, she will address her classmates during ... more

South San Antonio High School senior, AraceliGarcia attends shortened classes on her last day at the school, on Friday, June 2, 2016. As the school's valedictorian, she will address her classmates during graduation services next week. less

South San Antonio High School senior, AraceliGarcia attends shortened classes on her last day at the school, on Friday, June 2, 2016. As the school's valedictorian, she will address her classmates during ... more

In March, Araceli Garcia, 17, was among numerous parents, educators and community leaders who met at Palo Alto College to voice concerns about the future of the South Side community.

It was the first town hall meeting of South San Kids First, a group founded by District 4 Councilman Rey Saldaña and residents concerned about issues in the South San Antonio Independent School District

Saldaña called Garcia to speak before more than 150 attendees as a student who excelled in her school, despite difficulties in the district. The South San High School student stood before the crowd as her civic duty. She spoke about how she achieved her goals in the face of obstacles she said students shouldn’t have to face in any school district.

Hours of preparation for the address settled any nerves the young speaker might have had. Since she was a freshman, she had trained with the National Hispanic Institute, a leadership organization, on how to present and defend her view. Her concern for her classmates and future generations is rooted in lessons from teachers and sacrifices her mother made over the years.

“She was the one that made sure I had everything I needed,” Garcia said of her mom, Brenda Garcia. “I was never without a school supply missing in my backpack since I was in pre-K. She’s been a constant beam of support. She put me and my brother before any of her needs.”

Araceli Garcia is often touted as a role model in the district, excelling in Advanced Placement classes and extracurricular activities. She’s been accepted to Stanford University and is the recipient of several scholarships, including the prestigious Gates Millennium Scholarship.

Friday evening at Freeman Coliseum, she’ll address her classmates as valedictorian and class president. Her message to her classmates is that everything they want to achieve is within their grasp.

“Regardless of our economic background or last names, this stereotype that tries to define us doesn’t have to,” she said. “I believe it’s such a fitting message, because of where we’re graduating from and the family situations a lot of us come from, I think it’s something we don’t hear often enough. If you’re willing to put in the work, the sacrifice, whatever it takes to get to your goal, it can happen.”

Garcia credits her success to a long line of strong women in her family who made their children a top priority.

She said the best way she can honor her mother, who went to Texas A&M University for one semester, is to succeed. Brenda Garcia wasn’t prepared academically or socially for college and didn’t want Araceli to have the same experience.

Brenda Garcia waited tables at a River Walk restaurant at night so she could be available for her children during their school days. They lived on the West Side, with their grandmother Angelina Resendez until Araceli went to middle school.

Resendez cared for her and her brother, Andres, while their mother worked. Araceli slept with their grandmother and Andres slept with their mother until middle school, when they moved into their own home built through the Habitat for Humanity program.

“Deep down, I think they need to have a good place to live,” Brenda Garcia said of her children. “That goes toward helping them become better people.”

Brenda Garcia said the selection of her daughter as valedictorian of her class was a milestone for their family.

“She stayed up late, wrote the papers and she made it,” Garcia said. “I felt if she didn’t push herself, she’d regret it and I didn’t want her to have that regret.”

Araceli’s English teacher, Marie Altakali, recommended her for the Gates Millennium Scholarship. Altakali said she recognized the young woman’s drive and spirit when she was a sophomore. On her own, for example, Araceli would tutor fellow students who needed help.

“I think her joy comes from wanting to improve her community,” Altakali said. “I admire her. It’s not just about herself and reaching her goals, she wants to help everyone along the way. She has a great heart and she’s going to use it to help others.”